PA Drivers rated as some of the most unintelligent. (Pittsburgh: legal, safe)

[lifepgh2op]

Anyone venture onto the Parkway West today?

Rush hour + Pens traffic made traffic completely crawl from Robinson into the Tunnels.

Big problem... traffic merging from I-79 to 279. I thought they were adding lanes to fix that but it seems they added the lane at the interchange and then it ends before cars get on before the Carnegie exit. That 3rd lane looks nice, but it's pointless as it is hardly a mile long before it ends.

Anyway, I got off at Carnegie and went through Green Tree but the traffic and red lights there and the horrible construction around the West End Circle destroyed my plans of beating the Parkway...sucked to be me

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by nynjmapa

1. Left lane passing only.

....frequently abused by drivers in the greater Pittsburgh area.

If you're being passed while you're in the left lane, it's because YOU are ignoring the law first. Pennsylvania law mandates drivers to remain in the right hand lane unless they are merging or traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow. Anyone who is being passed while they are in the left lane is traveling slower than the traffic flow.

Nothing annoys me more than to be behind someone in the left lane, waiting for them to pull over to the right lane so I can pass, only for them to remain endlessly in the left lane traveling at a slower speed than traffic flow. Will I pass you? You bet! And I'll do it darn fast so you GET THE MESSAGE that you are putting yourself in danger.

How on earth can you judge someone for abusing the 'don't pass on the right' law when you are abusing the 'stay in the right lane' law? That's illogical!

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Nothing annoys me more than to be behind someone in the left lane, waiting for them to pull over to the right lane so I can pass, only for them to remain endlessly in the left lane traveling at a slower speed than traffic flow. Will I pass you? You bet! And I'll do it darn fast so you GET THE MESSAGE that you are putting yourself in danger.

And the kicker usually is, once you pass them, all of a sudden, they get the bright idea to move in to the lane they should be in.

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by lifepgh2op

Anyone venture onto the Parkway West today?

Rush hour + Pens traffic made traffic completely crawl from Robinson into the Tunnels.

Another thing I don't understand. Obviously there are a lot of people who aren't concerned about getting to the Steeler, Pirate, Penguins games on time, because I'll be on my way home from work on certain days, and game time is in fifteen minutes, and people are still clogging the roads to get there.

[Heit]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

As you say, "small stuff" adds up to gridlock because don't use their heads.

I'll agree, it does result in gridlock. I would bet that you would still have gridlock even if ALL the drivers were "excellent". It's the geography of Pittsburgh and it's roads. Take a lot of cars and funnel them down into TWO LANES. The result will be a major SLOW DOWN.

It goes with the territory. It's a personal CHOICE how YOU will let it effect you.

[JoeLeaphorn]

Originally Posted by Hopes

If you're being passed while you're in the left lane, it's because YOU are ignoring the law first. Pennsylvania law mandates drivers to remain in the right hand lane unless they are merging or traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow. Anyone who is being passed while they are in the left lane is traveling slower than the traffic flow.

It is also illegal to exceed the speed limit so who is wrong, here? Of course, the left lane is for passing only or left turns. But if you are going the speed limit, no one should be passing you, anyway, right?

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by JoeLeaphorn

It is also illegal to exceed the speed limit so who is wrong, here?

Everyone!

Originally Posted by JoeLeaphorn

Of course, the left lane is for passing only or left turns. But if you are going the speed limit, no one should be passing you, anyway, right?

If they're not going with the flow of traffic, they should be in the right lane even if they're going the speed limit. Seriously, there is no point for being in the left lane when they're not going as fast as other traffic. The flow of traffic on our parkways is usually 10 to 20 mph faster than the speed limit.

[ditchdigger]

If I recall correctly, one of the laws that was adopted recently was that you can get a ticket for obstructing traffic, even if you're doing the speed limit. In other words, if everybody else is doing 15 mph over the limit, and you're cruising along in the left lane at exactly the limit, Smokey will give you the ticket...

On edit: That having been said, if I'm doing 70 in a 55 zone, in the left lane, and some jerk starts riding my bumper because he wants to be doing 80, I really have no qualms of conscience about not moving over...

[JoeLeaphorn]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

If I recall correctly, one of the laws that was adopted recently was that you can get a ticket for obstructing traffic, even if you're doing the speed limit. In other words, if everybody else is doing 15 mph over the limit, and you're cruising along in the left lane at exactly the limit, Smokey will give you the ticket...

On edit: That having been said, if I'm doing 70 in a 55 zone, in the left lane, and some jerk starts riding my bumper because he wants to be doing 80, I really have no qualms of conscience about not moving over...

Not exactly true (but a common misconception):

(b) Vehicle proceeding at less than normal speed.--Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into an alley, private road or driveway. This subsection does not apply to a driver who must necessarily drive in a lane other than the right-hand lane to continue on his intended route.


There is no rule specific to the "flow of traffic" and traveling at the prevailing speed when that speed exceeds the legal limit is no protection against a moving violation. Also, the last clause exempts a user who is planning to turn left and cannot be guaranteed sufficient space to merge left prior to the turn.

[ditchdigger]

...and traveling at the prevailing speed when that speed exceeds the legal limit is no protection against a moving violation

Certainly, that is understood. If everyone is moving at 20 mph over the limit, then the officer could take his pick of whom to ticket. (But I feel a whole lot less likely to get a ticket if I'm speeding along with everyone else. The only speeding ticket I ever got was on the Turnpike, early one Sunday morning when I was probably the only car within a mile in either direction. Which is sort of ironic, in that that situation was probably the one in which my speed posed the least hazard to myself or anybody else, but I digress...)

I'm not sure what the change was to the letter of the law, but what I recall reading is consistent with what I said. What you've quoted there, I can still see as open to interpretation.

Is the "normal speed of traffic" the posted limit, or is it the real world speed that everybody else is moving at? Which is usually, as Hopes posted, 10 to 20 over the limit. The part that says, "...at the time and place and under the conditions then existing..." seems to me to allow for somebody moving at the legal limit to actually be in violation of the law, if they're in the left lane.